One of the most compelling arguments for staying in Afghanistan and adding troops to better implement a counter-insurgency strategy is that we need to prove to the Pakistani Army and intelligence services that we are serious and we are staying. If we draw down our forces in Afghanistan, this argument goes, one of two things will happen. Either the Pakistani security forces - or elements among them - will decide that their long-term interests are better served by making nice with - and even, as they have in the past, supporting -the Taliban or in spite of Pakistan's best efforts the Taliban and Al Qaeda will use Afghanistan as a base for further destabilizing Pakistan.
This is a valid concern. I would love to see some creative and realistic thinking on how we can stabilize Pakistan even if Afghanistan, once again, fails as a state.
No comments:
Post a Comment